Saturday

27 February 2010--Week 8 of 2010: 58 days this year…307 remain


» Free Ramblings «

This has been a busy day. First our retirement trio went to Riordan Mansion and then to lunch. Tonight our Great Decisions group meets to discuss the envoy role in international politics.

Since my retirement I have done quite a few historical tours. I enjoy learning about how it was back then. On that count, Riordan was a very professional, well organized, interesting tour of the family home that helped build Flagstaff at the beginning of the last century. The mansion is Arts and Crafts and has a ton of Stickley furniture. Two brothers built two 6,000 sq ft homes and attached them with a 1,000 sq ft romp room. The lumber business must have been very good back in the day for these Irish Catholics.

I have been on two tours where I left angry. The first was at Robben Island where I was angry what the minority had done to the majority. Today was the second time. According to our volunteer guide, the state parks that are closing is because of our legislature. I knew that, but what I didn’t know, is that all the state parks are funded by donations, endowments, gifts, and admission…no state tax money is involved. However our legislature found a legal way to take that money and put it into other programs. So the cash cow of funds to keep these places open has been destroyed. One of the Riordan Brothers, who started the plan to make the mansions a state park, put in his will that if the state closed the park for one year and one day, the home would revert back to the heirs. Really smart man. Of course over the last 100+ years the family has grown and moved and now, there is no patriarch or matriarch so many, many family members will each own a door knob. I can imagine the arguments that would follow.

I have to do some more investigating into this bizarre story, but knowing Arizona and its incompetent legislature I won’t be surprised when I find that it is true.

It has been nice weather day for February. We made it to 41° and a light jacket was enough for me on the tour, part of which was outside. It’s now the weekend, so of course, the clouds are coming in, the temperature is dropping, and snow is on the horizon and on the peaks. It won’t make it down the mountain until tomorrow. Thankfully, this is another California storm, so the temps won’t drop below the 20’s or high teens at night.

All other regular features will return tomorrow!!!